In pictures: Neil Lennon's Celtic career 2000 - 2014

TAKE a look back at Neil Lennon's colourful Celtic career as both player and manager in our special gallery.

THEY say every picture tells a story and in the case of Neil Lennon's Celtic career you'd need a bumper photo album to chart the Irishman's journey from big money signing to treble title winning manager.

From the moment Martin O'Neill unveiled the £5.75m midfielder in December 2000 life has never been dull for Lennon or the Celtic fans.

On the park the combative midfielder racked up trophies, enjoyed glory nights on the continent and eventually became captain of the Hoops, replacing Jackie McNamara.

But off the park Lennon was never far from controversy with sectarian thugs forcing him to retire early from international football with Northern Ireland and a number of unsavoury incidents in Scotland including parcel bombs being addressed to him at Celtic's training ground and death threats posted on social media sites.

Lennon quit the Parkhead club this morning and it's fair to say Scottish football won't be the same without him.

Take a look at our gallery above for a quick journey through Lennon's Celtic career.